Index of everyday life

ABSTRACT

A mobile phone connected to a fleet of radio transceiver chips that can be individually identified by the mobile station, which automatically are associated with a photo when the phone camera is used in proximity. The transceiver chips have a small loudspeaker, vibrator and/or light emitter for producing an alarm, and the transceiver chip also can determine and send back its location to the mobile phone. The mobile phone deduces its location by GPS or triangulation, and has an application which can be programmed to check the location of items given predetermined criteria are met, or upon user request. For example the mobile phone can be used to program luggage lists, and check whether everything is with the user at a time. The best mode involves typically a smartphone with relevant application software and RFID tags enhanced by light emitter, loudspeaker and/or vibrator and adhesive.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This present application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 15/943,435, filed Apr. 2, 2018, which is adivisional of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No.15/802,515, filed Nov. 3, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,973,913, which is acontinuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No.13/625,087, filed Sep. 24, 2012; and a continuation of U.S.Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/625,082, filed Sep. 24,2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,973,838; which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/691,430, filed Aug. 21, 2012. Thedisclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in theirentirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to computerized search and wireless machine tomachine (M2M) communication. More particularly, the invention relates tomaintaining an index relation of everyday objects in a mobile phone forspatial search and verification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People conduct billions of searches for documents worldwide every day.This searching involves searching for information in documents, i.e.using the index relation {keywords} 4 Index_(r)→{Documents}. Thisinformation retrieval is conducted by search engines such as Google.

People also search continuously for their kids, purse, credit cards,keys, lipstick, passport, seniors, car or any conceivable person orobject in the spatial domain. It is known in the prior art that cargo istracked e.g. by supplying GPS chips on cargo boxes. It is also known inthe prior art that RFID tags can be used to track kids, where an RFIDreader is in a mobile phone. This system is described in US2011/0227726A1, which is cited here as reference.

It is also known in the prior art that RFID tags can be used to deliverinformation via WLAN connections. EP1908250B1 provides a mobile phonewith RFID reader and WLAN transmitter integrated on a SIM card. It isused e.g. to realize a museum guide to provide info about exhibitedobjects via WLAN. This document is cited here as reference.

RFID's can be attached conveniently to articles, e.g. US2010/0090011describes an RFID tag that has an adhesive on a first surface forattaching to an article. This document is cited here as reference.

It should also be noted that in the prior art sonar systems have beenused to locate fish, and radar has been used to locate for exampleairplanes.

Also, when the inventor loses his mobile phone, he usually finds it byusing another mobile phone to call it in accordance with the prior art.

Despite all these technologies, the average person spends a lot of histime every day to keep track of his belongings. Quite clearly, the priorart has substantial shortcomings. The prior art is not suited tomanaging the whole fleet of essential items that a person ownsdynamically in changing practical life situations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention under study is directed towards a system and a method foreffectively keeping track of personal belongings, relatives and friendsso that it can be easily ensured and inspected that nothing is lost andeverything relevant is with the user. It is an object of the inventionto make all objects when lost as easily discoverable as a mobile phoneis, whilst managing a large number of objects.

One aspect of the invention involves a mobile phone, typically asmartphone, which is used as the server and hub of the system and aplurality of small radio transceiver chips that can be attached toobjects and people like “Post-It” notes. The user takes radiotransceiver chip that typically has an adhesive on at least one surface,and attaches it to an article or item that is to be tracked, for examplehome keys. As the user attaches the radio transceiver chip to the homekeys, he takes a photo of the keys, or writes a descriptive string like“Home keys” to the smartphone, which activates the radio transceiverchip and associates said chip to this descriptive data.

When the user is about to leave home, and cannot find his keys, hesimply touches the photo of the home keys or the descriptive “Home keys”string on the smartphone display, or selects the home keys otherwise,depending on the user interface of the mobile phone. When the selectionhas been made, the mobile phone sends a signal to the radio transceiverchip, which receives said signal. Upon receiving the signal from themobile phone, the radio transceiver chip produces an alarm, such as asound, a flash of light, a vibration, or all or some of theaforementioned. This allows the user to find the home keys using theassistance provided by the alarm. Naturally as other items or evenpeople are attached with radio transceiver chips, the user can find anyitem in his or her proximity by simply touching the picture or name ofthe item or person, and observing where the alarm comes from.

Another embodiment of the invention makes it possible to manage acollection of personal possessions in different situations of everydaylife. Suppose the user is going to abroad for a trip of few days, e.g.from the EU to the US. The user, like most people will have a collectionof mandatory items which he always takes with him. These for example mayinclude: 1) home keys, 2) wallet, 3) passport, 4) ESTA-securityclearance forms, 5) credit card, 6) airline ticket copies, 7)toothbrush, 8) electric shaver, 9) medication, 10) electronic adapter,11) mobile phone, 12) laptop computer, 13-15) chargers for allelectronic devices, and so on. Suppose that each of these items has nowbeen labelled with a radio transceiver chip attached to each item asexplained before. The user could exit the home, and select each itemindividually, and observe whether there is an alarm to make sure thatthe user is carrying the necessary item with him or in his luggage. Thiswould be tedious and time consuming though, as 15 checks would need tobe made individually.

Instead, in one embodiment the user simply selects a “US trip” from hismobile phone. The mobile station will now send a signal to eachtransceiver chip on each item at the same time.

In one embodiment they all (transceiver chips) produce alarms. The usercan then observe if all alarms from all items were present. Thisembodiment of the invention however has a more preferable embodiment. Inthe preferred embodiment each transceiver chip receives a signal fromthe mobile station, and sends a radio signal back to the mobile stationin response. The mobile station receives the response signals and trackswhich items had a satisfactory response signal and which items had anon-satisfactory response signal or no response at all. The mobilestation then alerts the user of those items that did not provide asatisfactory response signal.

For example, if the user is going to the US from the EU, he could exithis home and get into the elevator with his luggage. Whilst travellingin the elevator, he could select “US trip” from his mobile phone, andthe mobile phone would scan all 15 items on the list. If there was noresponse from the transceiver chip attached to the passport, the mobilephone would alert the user by flashing “Passport missing!” message onthe display. If a satisfactory response would have been received fromall transceiver chips, the mobile phone could show a message: “All itemsdetected!” or something similar on the display, to notify the user thathe has all items with him and is cleared to travel.

In one aspect of the invention, the radio connection between thetransceiver chip and mobile phone is very short range, and the item isdetected as present when there is a response and detected as missingwhen there is no response. In a more elaborate embodiment, it is alsopossible that the transceiver chip location is determined by GPS,triangulation by base stations or other radio transceivers or anothersatellite system and communicated back to the mobile station. The mobilestation will then compare its own position to the position of the radiotransceivers and determine whether the items are with the user or inpossession of the user. Alternatively the relative position between themobile station and transceiver chips could also be deduced based onsonar and/or radar communication in some embodiments.

Some or all of the aforementioned advantages of the invention areaccrued also with a system that can tag locations of the user, forexample by input from the user. One location that could be tagged inaccordance with the invention could be the home of the user, anotherlocation the workplace of the user. Now, the mobile phone knows the timeand location of the user and it could thus be programmed with scripts,i.e. rules, which remind the user if he is forgetting something. Forexample, if the user is close to the exit door of his home, the mobilephone displays “home key missing” if the user does not have the home keyin e.g. 1 metre proximity. If the time is during office hours, the sameis done for the office keys. So, at 9.00 am, during office hours, theuser is about to leave home with the home keys in his pocket, but nooffice keys with him. As the user exits the home, the mobile stationshould alert the user of the missing office keys. Once receiving thealert, the user will want to know where the office keys are. In oneembodiment, the mobile station also notes the current location of theitem, for example like: “Office keys missing, found in home” if thetransceiver chip associated with office keys is detected in a locationthat is sufficiently close to the location tag “home”. Location tag istypically created by storing the location co-ordinates, or relativelocation data, characteristic of a place, such as “home”, into themobile station for later recognition.

A communication system in accordance with the invention comprises aradio transceiver chip and a radio transceiver incorporated into acomputer arranged to communicate with said transceiver chip, and ischaracterized in that

-   -   said transceiver chip is arranged to be attached to an item,        which item is an object or a person, and said computer is        arranged to send a signal to said transceiver chip and,    -   said transceiver chip is arranged to produce a sound, light        and/or vibration signal in response to receiving said sent        signal.

A communication method in accordance with the invention comprises aradio transceiver chip and a radio transceiver incorporated into acomputer, communicating with said transceiver chip, and is characterizedin that

-   -   said transceiver chip is attached to an item, which item is an        object or a person, and said computer sends a signal to said        transceiver chip and,    -   said transceiver chip produces a sound, light and/or vibration        signal in response to sending said signal.

A memory unit comprising a software program product in accordance withthe invention comprises a radio transceiver chip software and a radiotransceiver software incorporated into a computer arranged tocommunicate with said transceiver chip software, and is characterized inthat

-   -   said transceiver chip is arranged to be attached to an item,        which item is an object or a person, and said computer is        arranged to send a signal to said transceiver chip and is        characterized in that,    -   said transceiver chip software is arranged to produce a sound,        light and/or vibration signal in response to receiving said sent        signal.

A communication system in accordance with the invention comprises aradio transceiver chip and a radio transceiver incorporated into amobile station arranged to communicate with said transceiver chip, andis characterized in that

-   -   said transceiver chip is arranged to be attached to an item,        which item is an object or a person, and said mobile station is        arranged to send a signal to said transceiver chip and is        characterized in that,    -   said transceiver chip attached to item and said mobile station        are arranged to communicate to determine the relative or        absolute location of said transceiver chip,    -   a deviation exceeding a threshold value in the relative or        absolute location of said transceiver chip from a specified        relative or absolute location value stored or received on said        mobile station is arranged to be indicated by the mobile station        to the user of said mobile station.

A communication method in accordance with the invention comprises aradio transceiver chip and a radio transceiver incorporated into amobile station communicates with said transceiver chip, and ischaracterized in that

-   -   said transceiver chip is attached to an item, which item is an        object or a person, and said mobile station sends a signal to        said transceiver chip,    -   said transceiver chip attached to item and said mobile station        communicate to determine the relative or absolute location of        said transceiver chip,    -   a deviation exceeding a threshold value in the relative or        absolute location of said transceiver chip from a specified        relative or absolute location value stored or received on said        mobile station is indicated by the mobile station to the user of        said mobile station.

A memory unit comprises a software program product in accordance withthe invention, and comprises a radio transceiver chip software and aradio transceiver software arranged incorporated into a mobile stationarranged to communicate with said transceiver chip software, and ischaracterized in that

-   -   said transceiver chip is arranged to be attached to an item,        which item is an object or a person, and said mobile station is        arranged to send a signal to said transceiver chip,    -   said transceiver chip software attached to item and said mobile        station are arranged to communicate to determine the relative or        absolute location of said transceiver chip,    -   a deviation exceeding a threshold value in the relative or        absolute location of said transceiver chip from a specified        relative or absolute location value stored or received on said        mobile station software is arranged to be indicated by the        mobile station to the user of said mobile station.

A communication system in accordance with the invention, comprising aradio transmitter chip and a radio receiver incorporated into a mobilestation arranged to communicate with said transmitter chip ischaracterized in that,

-   -   said transmitter chip is arranged to be attached to an item,        which item is an object or a person,    -   said mobile station is arranged to receive a signal from said        transmitter chip,    -   said transmitter chip attached to item and/or said mobile        station are arranged to determine the relative or absolute        location of said transceiver chip,    -   a deviation exceeding a threshold value in the relative or        absolute location of said transmitter chip from a specified        relative or absolute location value stored or received on said        mobile station is arranged to be indicated by the mobile station        to the user of said mobile station.

The invention has a multitude of advantages. With the invention the usercan stay on track of where his belongings are, and inspect whether hehas all necessary belongings in a very short time. The invention reducesthe time spent on looking after lost objects and worrying whethereverything was packed and where some items are.

In addition and with reference to the aforementioned advantage accruingembodiments, the best mode of the invention is considered to be a mobilephone connected to a fleet of transceiver chips that can be individuallyidentified by the mobile station, which automatically are associatedwith a photo when the phone camera is used in proximity. The transceiverchips have a small loudspeaker, vibrator and/or light emitter forproducing an alarm, and the transceiver chip also can determine and sendback its location to the mobile phone. The mobile phone deduces itslocation by GPS or triangulation, and has an application which can beprogrammed to check the location of items given predetermined criteriaare met, or upon user request. For example the mobile phone can be usedto program luggage lists, and check whether everything is with the userat a time. The best mode involves typically a smartphone with relevantapplication software and RFID tags enhanced by light emitter,loudspeaker and/or vibrator and adhesive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention will be described in greater detail withreference to exemplary embodiments in accordance with the accompanyingdrawings, in which

FIG. 1 demonstrates an embodiment 10 of the inventive communicationsystem as a block diagram.

FIG. 2 demonstrates an embodiment 20 of the inventive communicationmethod in accordance with the invention as a flow diagram.

FIG. 3 demonstrates an embodiment 30 of the mobile station userinterface in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 demonstrates an embodiment 40 of the inventive communicationmethod for managing many personal items in accordance with the inventionas a flow diagram.

Some of the embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 displays an embodiment 10 of the invention as a block diagram.The computer 100 is either a personal computer, tablet computer, mobilestation and/or a mobile phone. It has a keyboard 110 and a screen 111,or a touch-sensitive screen, and a radio transceiver 160. In someembodiments the computer 100 is an Apple iPhone, Google Android phone ora Microsoft Windows phone, or a Facebook compatible phone.

The computer 100 is designed to keep track of any of the followingitems: Car keys 130, passport 131 or daughter 132 of the user. Theseitems have a radio transceiver chip 140, 141, 142 attached.

The radio transceiver chip 140 is attached to the car keys 130 by meansof an adhesive. In some embodiments the radio transceiver chip 140 is ofthe shape, size and appearance of a small Post-it note; it has anadhesive 150, typically glue on the one side. On the other side it hasdifferent means for signaling directly to a human, including any of thefollowing: a light emitter 180, a loudspeaker 190 or a vibrator 170.Similarly the passport 131 of the user has an inventive radiotransceiver chip 141 unit attached to it. The radio transceiver chip140, 141, 142 is typically also of the shape, size and appearance of asmall Post-it note; it has an adhesive 151, typically glue on the oneside for attaching to the passport. On the other side it has differentmeans for signaling, including any of the following: a light emitter181, a loudspeaker 191 or a vibrator 171.

The radio transceiver chip units 140, 141, 142 typically have at leastone radio antenna for communication, a power source, a battery, amicroprocessor and digital memory, such as ROM, RAM, and/or EEPROM. Theradio transceiver chips 140, 141, 142 typically do not have anykeyboard, and they have no screen either, which allows to manufacturethem in small size, low cost, and high quantities, like Post-It sheets.The levels of electric power, memory, or processing power are typicallyvery low, as the radio transceiver chips 140, 141, 142 has quite alimited function. In some embodiments the radio transceiver chip units140, 141, 142 may be passive i.e. without a power source and battery,and be powered by the inductive energy of the incoming radio signal. Theradio transceiver chips 140, 141, 142 are typically the size of a squarecentimeter, or 0.5 cm*0.5 cm in area or the like, so they can beattached to the smaller articles like keys and sunglasses withoutdisturbance to the item itself, but are still easy to manipulate withfingers.

In some embodiments the radio transceiver chip units 140, 141, 142 aresmall GPS (Global Positioning system), NFC (Near Field Communication),RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) and/or Bluetooth-compliantradio transceiver chips. The radio transceiver 160 in the computer 100is also typically a GPS (Global Positioning system), NFC (Near FieldCommunication), RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) and/orBluetooth-compliant radio transceiver. Preferably the connection betweentransceiver chip units 140, 141, 142 and the computer 100 is a directconnection via a radio path. In other embodiments the connection betweentransceiver chip units 140, 141, 142 and the computer 100 is supportedby a base station, such as a WLAN base station, and/or is via thecellular telephony network.

This connection can be a duplex connection, where information iscommunicated between the transceiver chip units 140, 141, 142 and thecomputer, or the connection can be unidirectional. In a sophisticatedembodiment, the transceiver chip units 140, 141, 142 receive datatransmissions from the computer 100 via radio, and respond to these viaradio. In one unidirectional embodiment the radio transceiver chip units140, 141, 142 merely receive data transmissions from computer, and sendsignals to the human user via any of the following: a light emitter 181,a loudspeaker 191 or a vibrator 171. In the sonar and/or radarembodiment, the radio transceiver chip units 140, 141, 142 are replacedor supplemented by sonar and/or radio reflectors.

It should be noted that in the embodiment where the computer 100 is amobile phone, said mobile phone 100 will also typically have normalcellular radio transceivers in addition, which are typically compliantwith any of following standards: UMTS- (Universal MobileTelecommunication System), GSM- (Global System for MobileTelecommunications), WAP- (Wireless Application Protocol), Teldesic-,Inmarsat-, Iridium-, GPRS- (General Packet Radio Service), CDMA- (CodeDivision Multiple Access), GPS- (Global Positioning System), 3G-, 4G-,Bluetooth-, WLAN- (Wireless Local Area Network), and/or WCDMA (WidebandCode Division Multiple Access) in accordance with the invention.

In one embodiment the radio transceiver chip 140, 141, 142 units arecompliant with the aforementioned cellular telephony standards, and thusa signal can be sent to said radio transceiver chip units 140, 141, 142via the cellular communication network. In this particular embodimentthe radio transceiver chip units 140, 141, 142 could have telephonenumbers. In one embodiment, for example the telephone number of themobile phone could have e.g. 100 extension numbers, which would be thenumbers of the radio transceiver chip units 140, 141, 142.

The radio transceiver chip 140, 141, 142 units are typically sold withthe mobile phones or computers 100. Alternatively, the radio transceiverchip 140, 141, 142 units can be sold like Post-It stationery insupermarkets, typically in a pack of varying quantity or individually.When the user obtains a new item to be tracked, for example buys a newcar with a new set of keys 130, he simply attaches the radio transceiverchip 140 like a Post-It stamp is attached to a wall or a table: hepresses the surface with the adhesive 150 against the item 130 to betracked. In some embodiments the transceiver chip unit 140 is alsoactivated on the computer 100 in some way, for example by forming aradio connection and choosing activate or the like.

In some embodiments the radio transceiver chip 140, 141, 142 unit ispassive, i.e. it does not have an electric power source. In theseembodiments the radio transceiver chip 140, 141, 142 generates therequired power from the incoming radio transmission, similarly to apassive RFID tag. In other embodiments the radio transceiver chip 140,141, 142 unit is equipped with a small photovoltaic cell for powerproduction from incident light. In some embodiments the radiotransceiver chip 140, 141, 142 unit is equipped with a kinetic springsystem found in up-scale watches, such as the Omega Apollo Moon Watch,which stores mechanical motion and uses it for power subsequently. Insome embodiments the radio transceiver chip 140, 141, 142 unit comprisesboth a system for storing mechanical kinetic energy and a photovoltaiccell and/or a battery which can be charged by one, other or both of saidsystems. This is preferable sometimes as the chip gets charged both inthe dark whilst in motion, and in the light in a moving and stationarystate.

In some embodiments the radio transceiver chip 140, 141, 142 unit isjust a radio transceiver and a SIM-card, or data stored on SIM, e.g.“software SIM”.

In some embodiments the radio transceiver chip 140, 141, 142 unit isreplaced or supplemented with a sonar and/or radar reflector,transmitter and/or receiver. In this embodiment the computer 100 needsto be similarly equipped, i.e. comprise a sonar and/or radar transmitterand receiver and/or transceiver.

In this application the radio transceiver chip unit 140, 141, 142 mayhave several receive-transmit modes, for example: radio-radio,radio-sound, radio-light, radio-vibration. In the sonar or radarembodiments, it is possible and in accordance with the invention thatthe transceiver unit 140, 141, 142 is no longer a radio or a chip unit,but a passive reflector, receiving sonar or radar signal from a sonarand/or radar transmitter associated with the computer 100 andtransmitting it back by reflection to said computer 100.

The logical connection to the radio transceiver chip 140, 141, 142 unitsis displayed on the computer 100 screen 111: the car keys 130 areassociated with the icon 120, the passport 130 is associated with theicon 121, and the icon 122 is associated with the little daughter 132 ofthe user who is simply wearing the radio transceiver chip unit 142 in adiaper or an article of clothing or it is adhered to the skin of thedaughter like a small Post-It note would. It is also quite probable thata soft beep 192 and a vibration 172 initiated by the transceiver chipunit 142 could be learned by the child to mean that mother or father islooking for her.

In some embodiments the icons 120, 121, 122 feature a photo of the itemthat they are associated with. In some embodiments the photo is takenwith a camera in the computer or associated with the computer. Forexample, especially in the embodiment where the computer is a smartphonewith a camera, the user may hold the item with the transceiver chip unit140 close by, and as the user snaps a picture of the keys with thecamera, the mobile phone 100 automatically activates the radiotransceiver chip unit 140 by sending an activation signal, whichresponds to the activation signal and associates said radio transceiverchip unit 140 with the photo. In some embodiments the sent activationsignal could be associated with the photo, in some embodiments theresponse to it. In some embodiments the user inputs a text string toname the relevant radio transceiver chip unit 140, for example byinputting “Car keys” as is shown on screen 111 in icon 120. Theaforementioned association of names or pictures to icons representingitems works similarly in the sonar and/or radar embodiments: When thecamera button is pressed or text entered sonar and/or radar radiation issent from the computer 100, and it is the reflected signal from thesonar and/or radar reflectors on said item 130 that is associated withthe said text or picture identifier data.

In some embodiments, when the user presses the relevant icon, a signalis sent to the radio transceiver chip unit, which then responds eitherby producing a sound, light and/or vibration signal and/or by respondingvia radio with a data signal, which may include location data of radiotransceiver chip unit 140. For example when the user wishes to find hiscar keys 130, he selects icon 120 on the computer 100 display or pressesicon 120 on a mobile phone touch sensitive display. The computer 100then sends a radio signal to the radio transceiver chip unit 140. Uponreceipt of said signal, in one embodiment the radio transceiver chipunit 140 energises or controls the loudspeaker 190 to produce an audiblebeep, music, or any sound signal. Alternatively or to supplement thesaid sound signal, the radio transceiver chip unit 140 energises orcontrols the light 180 to flash a light signal. Also, alternatively orto supplement the said sound signal and/or light signals, the radiotransceiver chip unit 140 energises or controls the vibrator 170 tovibrate. In some embodiments the radio transceiver chip unit 140energises and controls any of the following: loudspeaker 190, light 180,vibrator 170.

The user tries to observe any sound-, light- and/or vibration signals tofind the car keys 130. In the embodiment where the radio transceiverunit returned a data signal containing location data, the computer 100displays the location data to the user, preferably in an understandableform, such as a map, relative distance, co-ordinates, or the like thatwill help the user to find the car keys 130.

The adhesive 150, 151, 152 is typically glue, but it can be another typeof, e.g. mechanical adhesion mechanism in some embodiments of theinvention also.

In some embodiments radio transceiver chip unit 140, 141, 142 may beattached to a door and/or window, and the computer 100 is arranged todetermine whether said door and/or window is closed or open based onlocation data received or obtained from radio transceiver chip unit 140,141, 142. In some embodiments radio transceiver chip unit 140, 141, 142may comprise a pressure sensor, and the pressure value measured by saidpressure sensor is used to determine whether the door and/or window isclosed and/or locked. Said radio transceiver chip unit 140, 141, 142unit may either send a measured pressure data value to computer 100, ora data value indicating closed/open/locked/unlocked based on saidmeasured pressure. For example if pressure exceeds value X at radiotransceiver chip unit 140, 141, 142, the door or window is locked, andthis data is arranged to be sent to computer 100. If the pressureexceeds value Y at radio transceiver chip unit 140, 141, 142, the dooror window is closed, and this data is arranged to be sent to computer100. If the pressure does not reach value X at radio transceiver chipunit 140, 141, 142, the door or window is unlocked, and this data isarranged to be sent to computer 100. If the pressure does not reachvalue Y at radio transceiver chip unit 140, 141, 142, the door or windowis open, and this data is arranged to be sent to computer 100. This waythe user can check from mobile station or computer 100 whether the dooris locked & closed, unlocked & closed or open when he is away.Similarly, if the radio transceiver chip unit 140, 141, 142 is attachedto the latch of the lock, or to the side of the door, the positions inclosed/open and locked/unlocked states can stored to the mobile station100, and preferably tagged as explained before, and the position ofradio transceiver chip unit 140, 141, 142 is used to determine the stateof the lock and/or door and communicate the state closed/open andlocked/unlocked to the user of the computer or mobile station 100 on adisplay or screen.

It should be noted that in some embodiments different radio transceiverchip units 140, 141, 142 are arranged to control and/or producedifferent sound, light and/or vibration signals, so that the user candistinguish said radio transceiver chip units 140, 141, 142, and items130, 131, 132 to which they are attached, from one another based on thesaid signals.

It should be noted that any features, phases or parts of the method 10can be freely permuted and combined with embodiments 20, 30 and/or 40 inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 demonstrates an embodiment 20 of the inventive communicationmethod in accordance with the invention as a flow diagram. In phase 200the car keys are lost, and the user subsequently discovers that he ismissing the keys. In phase 210 the user indicates “car keys” on hiscomputer or mobile phone. In phase 220 the mobile station sends a radiosignal to the radio transceiver chip unit attached to the car keys. Inphase 230 the radio transceiver chip unit produces a sound, light and orvibration signal as discussed before. Based on the said signal, orassisted by the said signal the user finds the lost car keys in phase240.

In the sonar/radar embodiment, a sonar and/or radar signal would beproduced in phase 220 to replace the radio signal, the signal would bereflected in phase 230 from the reflector attached to the car keys, andbased on the reflected signal the mobile station of the user woulddisplay instructions to discover the car keys to the user in phase 240.

It should be noted that any features, phases or parts of the method 20can be freely permuted and combined with embodiments 10, 30 and/or 40 inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 displays an embodiment 30 of the invention as a user interfacediagram. The computer 100 is a mobile phone or a PDA in this embodimentand the screen 111 contains icons 120, 121, 122 which the user hasspecified as essential for a foreign trip. The user is now in theelevator, and wishes to check whether he has everything he needs withhim for a foreign trip. He chooses a pre-programmed computer script“foreign trip” which he himself or someone else has programmed for thepurpose of identifying mandatory items for conducting a trip to abroad.

After the user has selected “foreign trip” script the mobile phone willsend signals to each and all radio transceiver chip units 140, 141 and142 which have been programmed into the said script. In one embodimentthe range of the signal is very short, say e.g. 0.5-2 m. In thisembodiment a response from a radio transceiver chip unit 140, 141, 142is indicative of presence. If the radio transceiver chip unit responds,it is present, if not, it is absent. In this embodiment radiotransceiver chip units 140 and 142 responded because the car keys 130are in the pocket of the user and the daughter 132 is with the user inthe elevator, but the passport 131 was on the kitchen table and itsradio transceiver chip unit 141 was out of range, so the mobile station100 reports the passport 131 as missing to the user, and in someembodiments alerts the user with a sound, vibration or flash of a lightand/or screen 111.

In another embodiment, radio transceiver chip units 140, 141, 142respond back by sending via radio their location data, and the signaltypically has a longer range. This longer range could be for example 100metres or the like for direct communication, and if any of the radiotransceiver chip units 140, 141, 142 are connected to a cellular networkor GPS this range could be worldwide in those embodiments. In thisembodiment, the radio transceiver chip units 140, 141, 142 preferablycomprise a GPS transceiver, which provides the location and alsopreferably the mobile phone 100 comprises a GPS transceiver.Alternatively, it is also possible that the location is deduced relativeto the mobile phone 100, i.e. the distance between radio transceiverchip units 140, 141 and 142 and mobile phone 100 is deduced, which couldbe deduced by response delay time measurements or triangulation. If therelative distance between the radio transceiver chip unit 140, 141, 142and the mobile phone 100 is too great, the mobile phone deduces that theitem associated with radio transceiver chip unit 140, 141, 142 ismissing from the user of said mobile phone. For example 2 metres islikely to be a good threshold distance. If the distance between themobile station 100 and the radio transceiver chip unit 140, 141 142 isgreater than 2 metres and the user is on the move, the user has eitherlost the associated item or forgotten it at home.

When the location of the mobile phone 100 and the time is known by themobile phone 100, this allows for location and time dependent scripting.For example, if the time is 7-9.30 am, and the user exits his home, themobile phone could automatically run a “going to work”-script, whichwould inspect that the user has his wallet, office keys, car keys andbriefcase with him. If these items were not detected at that timeoutside the home with the user, the mobile station 100 would report themissing items to the user and/or alert the user.

The automatic checking of multiple items at a time is a very preferableelectronic life management tool in accordance with the invention, whichhelps the user to not forget things accidentally, especially when thereare many essential things to remember. Data can be shared from theinventive item management application on the computer to otherapplications installed in the computer or in the network in accordancewith the invention. For example the results of running item lists, suchas “going to work” script, or “foreign trip” script can be transferredto a calendar application. The calendar application can then store theresults in accordance with the times when the results were obtained, andthe resulting history can further be used as information on where anylost objects might currently be. For example, if a suit was present whenthe user checked in at Sheraton, and was not present the next morning inthe calendar when the user checked out, it is quite probable that theuser accidentally left the suit in the Sheraton hotel room 313 where hestayed. It is now easy to call the hotel and inquire about a dark suit,possibly with a photo attached, in room 313, on a specific night, whichwas left behind.

Further it should be noted that the same radio transceiver chip unit140, 141, 142 can be labelled on multiple mobile stations or computers.For example the same car keys 130 and the same radio transceiver chipunit 140 could be labelled with icons 120 on multiple mobile stations,for example the husband and the wife could both have icon 120 labelledto the same car key 130 on each of their mobile stations 100. This way,both the husband or the wife can use the inventive system to find thecar keys 130, even if the other person and his mobile station orcomputer 100 are away.

It should be noted that any features, phases or parts of the method 30can be freely permuted and combined with embodiments 10, 20 and/or 40 inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 displays an embodiment 40 of the invention as a flow diagram. Inphase 400 the user composes the list of essential items for a foreigntrip, and radio transceiver chips 140, 141, 142 are attached to eachitem of said list, and each radio transceiver chips 140, 141, 142 isassociated with the correct and desired icon in the mobile station 100of the user, and the said list is stored. Phase 400 typically occurswhen the user takes the system into use i.e. makes the first trip withthe system. The list typically gets updated as the user adds or deletesitems from the list as he acquires essential items or replaces essentialitems, e.g. buys a new toothbrush, provides it with a new radiotransceiver chip unit, and associates said chip unit to an icon in themobile station. The user then stores the list in the mobile stationmemory or data storage means or over to a network computer and names itas “foreign trip”. The lists can be backed up and stored on networkcomputers in accordance with the invention, automatically, or based onuser input.

In phase 410 user chooses said foreign trip script from mobile station,which contains the aforementioned list and associations with radiotransceiver chip 140, 141, 142 units. The selection can take place forexample by clicking the “foreign trip” script icon on the touch screenof the mobile station. In phase 420 the mobile station acquires datafrom radio transceiver chips 140, 141, 142. If a particular radiotransceiver chip 140, 141, 142 provided a response, or provided locationdata sufficiently close to the location of the mobile station, themobile station concludes that item of said list to be present with theuser. Those radio transceiver chip 140, 141, 142 units that do notprovide a response at all, or provide location data too distant from themobile station location are listed as missing items, and said missingitems are displayed to user on the screen of the mobile station in phase440.

In one embodiment the user wears one radio transceiver chip unit onhimself, and the computer or mobile phone 100 is programmed to use thelocation of this radio transceiver chip unit as basis for measuringrelative or absolute distances, instead of the location of the mobilestation.

It should be noted that the Post-it type structure with an adhesive isnot a required feature of the invention, it is also possible that in thefuture every day items in the shop sell with pre-installed radiotransceiver chip units of the invention, and as users buy these items,these are automatically, or by the users initiative, activated on theuser's mobile phones.

In one embodiment, if the location data returned is too distant from themobile station, but the location data is similar to a location alreadystored on the mobile station, such as location of the home apartment ofthe user, the mobile station may produce a message to the user sayinge.g. “You left the shaver at home”. This occurs if the missing radiotransceiver chip unit was the one associated with the shaver, andreturned location data corresponding to the stored home apartmentlocation, or location data sufficiently close to the stored homeapartment location data of the user.

It should be noted that the invention allows multiple lists to be storedin the mobile phone of the user, for multiple different life situationsof the user. The invention therefore is used to compose an index betweenlife's situations and required equipment, which can be expressed forexample with the form of an index relation{lifesituation}→Index_(r)→{Essential items}. I.e. the invention provides theindex relation of everyday physical life for smartphone and radiotransceiver chip units using individuals.

It should be noted that any features, phases or parts of the method 40can be freely permuted and combined with embodiments 10, 20 and/or 30 inaccordance with the invention.

It should also be noted that in all preceding embodiments it is possibleto replace one or more radio transceiver chip 140, 141, 142 units with atransmit only chip or a receive only chip in accordance with theinvention. It should also be noted that in all preceding embodiments itis possible to replace one or more radio transceivers (160) incorporatedinto a computer (100) with a radio transmitter only or a radio receiveronly in accordance with the invention.

The invention has been explained above with reference to theaforementioned embodiments and several commercial and industrialadvantages have been demonstrated. The methods and arrangements of theinvention allow the user to stay on track of where his belongings are,and inspect whether he has all necessary belongings with him in a veryshort time. The invention reduces the time spent on looking after lostobjects and worrying whether everything was packed and where some itemsare. Indeed, there is also less need to clean and order things at homewhen the invention is used, as everything can be located even from adisorderly home with the use of the inventive mobile station and system.

The invention has been explained above with reference to theaforementioned embodiments. However, it is clear that the invention isnot only restricted to these embodiments, but comprises all possibleembodiments within the spirit and scope of the inventive thought and thefollowing patent claims.

REFERENCES

-   US 2011/0227726 A1, Lee, Location detection system using an RFID    tag.-   EP 1908250B1, Brede, Mobile phone with RFID reader and WLAN    transmitter integrated on SIM card.-   US 2010/0090011, Wee, Radio frequency transponder.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for locating an object, the methodcomprising: via an application executed on a mobile electronic devicethat includes a camera and a short range transceiver: associating a textstring with a wireless chip unit that is associated with the object, thewireless chip unit comprising a wireless chip; associating an image withthe wireless chip unit, the image being representative of the object,the image being generated by the application on the mobile electronicdevice; storing, in a memory of the mobile electronic device, the textstring and the image; presenting, on a display of the mobile electronicdevice, a selectable item corresponding to the wireless chip unit, theselectable item comprising at least one of a portion of the text stringand a portion of the image, the selectable item further being configuredto indicate whether the wireless chip unit is within a thresholddistance of the short range transceiver of the mobile electronic device;receiving input selecting the selectable item; and initiating,responsive to the input selecting the selectable item, sending a signalto the wireless chip unit, the signal being addressed to the wirelesschip unit based on an association of the input with the object.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the image comprises a photograph of theobject acquired by the camera of the mobile electronic device.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, further comprising capturing the photograph of theobject with a camera of the mobile electronic device.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the wireless chip unit is attached to the object. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the short range transceiver is aBLUETOOTH transceiver, and wherein initiating sending a signalcomprises: generating the signal for transmission via a BLUETOOTHprotocol.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal indicates to thewireless chip unit to produce a sound.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinthe selectable item graphically indicates whether the wireless chip unitis within the threshold distance of the mobile electronic device.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the text string comprises a label that isrepresentative of the object with which the wireless chip unit isassociated.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting, on the mobileelectronic device, the selectable item corresponding to the wirelesschip unit further comprises: presenting a plurality of selectable itemscomprising the selectable item and at least a second selectable itemthat corresponds to a second wireless chip unit.
 10. A method forlocating an object, the method comprising: via an application executedon a mobile electronic device that includes a camera and a short rangetransceiver: associating a text string with a wireless chip unit that isassociated with the object, the wireless chip unit comprising a wirelesschip; associating an image with the wireless chip unit, the image beingrepresentative of the object, the image being acquired by the camera ofthe mobile electronic device; storing, in a memory of the mobileelectronic device, the text string and the image; presenting, on adisplay of the mobile electronic device, a graphical item correspondingto the wireless chip unit, the graphical item comprising at least one ofa portion of the text string and a portion of the image and beingselectable from the display, the graphical item further indicatingwhether the wireless chip unit is within a threshold distance of theshort range transceiver of the mobile electronic device; receiving inputselecting the graphical item from the display; and initiating,responsive to the input selecting the graphical item, sending a signalto the wireless chip unit, the signal being addressed to the wirelesschip unit based on an association of the input with the object.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the image comprises a photograph of theobject.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising capturing thephotograph of the object with a camera of the mobile electronic device.13. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless chip unit is attachedto the object.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein initiating sending asignal comprises: generating the signal for transmission via a BLUETOOTHprotocol.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal indicates tothe wireless chip unit to produce a sound.
 16. The method of claim 10,wherein the graphical item graphically indicates whether the wirelesschip unit is within a threshold distance of the mobile electronicdevice.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein the text string comprises alabel that is representative of the object with which the wireless chipunit is associated.
 18. The method of claim 10, wherein presenting, onthe mobile electronic device, the graphical item corresponding to thewireless chip unit further comprises: presenting a plurality ofgraphical items comprising the graphical item and at least a secondgraphical item that corresponds to a second wireless chip unit.
 19. Amethod for locating an object using a mobile electronic device, themethod comprising: via an application executed on the mobile electronicdevice that includes a camera and a short range transceiver: associatinga text string with a wireless chip unit that is associated with theobject, the wireless chip unit comprising a wireless chip; associatingan image with the wireless chip unit, the image being representative ofthe object, the image being acquired by the camera of the mobileelectronic device; storing, in a memory of the mobile electronic device,the text string and the image; presenting, on a display of the mobileelectronic device, a selectable item corresponding to the wireless chipunit, the selectable item comprising at least one of a portion of thetext string and a portion of the image; receiving, via the display ofthe mobile electronic device, input selecting the selectable item; andgenerating, responsive to the input selecting the selectable item, asignal to be sent to the wireless chip unit from the mobile electronicdevice, the signal being addressed to the wireless chip unit based on anassociation of the input with the object.
 20. The method of claim 19,wherein the image comprises a photograph of the object.
 21. The methodof claim 20, further comprising capturing the photograph of the objectwith a camera of the mobile electronic device.
 22. The method of claim19, wherein the wireless chip unit is attached to the object.
 23. Themethod of claim 19, wherein initiating sending a signal comprises:generating the signal for transmission via a BLUETOOTH protocol.
 24. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the signal indicates to the wireless chipunit to produce a sound.
 25. The method of claim 19, wherein theselectable item indicates whether the wireless chip unit is within athreshold distance of the mobile electronic device.
 26. The method ofclaim 19, wherein the text string comprises a label that isrepresentative of the object with which the wireless chip unit isassociated.
 27. The method of claim 19, wherein presenting, on themobile electronic device, the selectable item corresponding to thewireless chip unit further comprises: presenting a plurality ofselectable items comprising the selectable item and at least a secondselectable item that corresponds to a second wireless chip unit.
 28. Asystem for locating an object using a mobile electronic device thatincludes a camera and a short range transceiver, the system comprising:a wireless chip unit configured to be associated with the object, thewireless chip unit comprising a wireless chip; and an application forexecution on the mobile electronic device, the application beingconfigured to: associate a text string with the wireless chip unit thatis associated with the object; associate an image with the wireless chipunit, the image being representative of the object, the image beingacquired by the camera of the mobile electronic device and generated bythe application; store, in a memory of the mobile electronic device, thetext string and the image; present, on a display of the mobileelectronic device, a selectable item corresponding to the wireless chipunit, the selectable item comprising at least one of a portion of thetext string or a portion of the image, the selectable item further beingconfigured to indicate whether the wireless chip unit is within athreshold distance of the mobile electronic device; receive inputselecting the selectable item; and initiate, responsive to the inputselecting the selectable item, sending a signal to the wireless chipunit, the signal being addressed to the wireless chip unit based on anassociation of the input with the object.
 29. The system of claim 28,wherein the wireless chip unit further comprises an adhesive by whichthe wireless chip unit is attached to the object.